The novel tells the story of Carrie Meeber, a Midwestern country girl who moves to Chicago. She meets a salesman, Charles Rouet, and after a period of unemployment becomes his mistress. Soon, however, she becomes disillusioned with him and takes up with his friend George Hurstwood, a middle-aged, married restaurant manager. He embezzles money and elopes with Carrie to New York, where he opens a saloon which fails. Their liaison continues for some three years, until Carrie is forced by their impoverishment to work as a chorus girl to support them. Though she makes an impression in a small part and begins what is to become a successful career, she fails to find happiness.